The Huntsville Festival of the Arts’ fabulous May Marché food sampling and wine tasting evening is fast approaching.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, May 23 at Deerhurst Resort from 7 to 10 p.m.

For the past several years, restaurants such as Deerhurst, Delta Grandview, Three Guys and a Stove and Spencer’s Tall Trees, among others, have participated in the event and are anticipated to return this year.

Wineries and breweries from across the province have made the marché a must-attend event. The evening will again feature the popular Muskoka martini station serving Polar Ice vodka in a colourful concoction.

Marché sponsor the Polar Diamond Group, in conjunction with Ron Henry Jewellers, will once again provide a lovely diamond pendant that will be raffled off throughout the evening.

The diamond is valued at $5,000.

The Polar Diamond Group represents Polar Bear Diamonds and Polar Ice Diamonds,   which sell diamonds that are mined, cut and polished in Canada. Originating from Canada’s first diamond-producing mine just south of the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories, these diamonds are carefully selected, measured and calibrated for their precise proportions and maximum brilliance. Only then do they receive their own specific ‘gemprint’ that allows them to be registered in an international database.

The gemprint for Polar Bear diamonds is actually a laser-engraved polar bear, ensuring it is a 100 per cent all-Canadian certified diamond.  

This year, the festival has introduced an early bird option for purchasing tickets. Tickets purchased by April 15 will remain at last year’s price of $50 per person. Tickets purchased after April 15 will be $60 per person.

“That is still a great deal considering the fantastic food and beverage sampling offered throughout the evening,” said Rob Saunders, festival general manager.

Only 500 tickets will be sold, so act now and save.

The May Marché is the Huntsville Festival of the Arts’ largest fundraiser and relies on the generosity of many community businesses. Organizers Mike Malone and Ross Kirwin anticipate the marché will once again sell out, so they encourage those interested to get their tickets as soon as possible.

Tickets are available from Treasures and Trophies, Robinson’s Independent Grocer, the Huntsville-Lake of Bays  Chamber of Commerce, from any board member, through the   website www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or by calling the festival office at 788-2787.